Malta is experiencing a steady and significant rise in the number of older residents. “By 2050, it is projected that a third of residents in Malta will be older than 65 years old. According to the United Nations’ population unit, this demographic shift will see the number of older adults in Malta grow from 108,000 in 2024 to 163,000 in 2050.” (MaltaToday)

This reality requires a coordinated response across health, social, and community services to ensure that older people can live with dignity, independence, and safety according to their own abilities and preferences.

It is undeniably fair to say that Active Ageing and Community Care (AACC) has spread out to cover a huge plethora of needs for older citizens.  The AACC describes itself as aiming “(…) to help people stay in charge of their own lives for as long as possible as they age and, where possible, to contribute to the economy and society”.  Under the aegis of the National Strategic Policy for Active Ageing – Malta 2023-2030, the Directorate offers care both on a community level as well as a residential basis.  For citizens who would not be in a position to cope in their own homes, there are six state-owned community residential homes which provide residential care to persons who display various degrees of dependence.

The second arm of support is composed of a wide network of services offered by Active Ageing and Community Care to support the elderly living in the community.  The AACC lists at least 25 different services ranging from support in physical day-to-day needs and well-being, including household needs, to healthcare and the provision of special needs like night respite and security offered by Telecare services.

The diversification listed in the services offered calls for a strong and continuous public information campaign.  It is important for the media to regularly feature clips which play a vital role in increasing awareness of available services—home care, community nursing, transport assistance, day centres and rehabilitation—so that older people and their families can access the support they need when they need it.

These information slots also highlight the extensive work carried out by the public sector, helping the public appreciate how active and effective Malta’s services are. Transparency about service provision builds trust and reinforces the social contract between government and citizens.

Community-based services reduce pressure on residential care and align with the clear preference of most seniors to remain in the communities where they have lived for years. Investing in services that support ageing in place is both humane and cost-effective.  Pensions have seen yet another rise, with some 100,000 pensioners looking to receive an additional €10 every week, and pensioners aged between 75 and 79-years-old seeing their pensions increased from €350 per month to €425, and the pensions for those aged 80 and above raised from €450 to €525.  There is additional support, with a Carer at Home scheme which offers a grant reaching a maximum of €9,000 per year.

With continuous investment in the infrastructure for accommodation and health services, Malta’s geriatric care needs to continue to expand, strengthening home-based teams, and training staff to meet the complex needs of older adults. As the provision for individual older adults improves, it is equally important to ensure that localities are age-friendly – with accessible pavements, benches, barrier-free public buildings, and reliable transport making daily life safer and more inclusive.

In true Labour tradition, the government’s visible investment in eldercare will be sustained and expanded. Continued promotion of available services, increased funding for community supports, and improvements to accessibility will allow older Maltese to enjoy their later years with confidence and dignity.

This is a Government that believes in the promotion of active ageing through inclusive, intergenerational and constructive practices, aiming to guarantee a superior quality of life for Maltese senior citizens and their significant others.